COMFREY

Constituents

• Comfrey contains allantoin promotes wound healing through cell proliferation and is anti-inflammatory

• Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are hepato-toxic and carcinogenic

• Silicic acid helps preserve elasticity of connective tissue

• Phenolic and rosmarinic acids are anti-inflammatory

• tannins

• mucilage

• choline

• asparagine

• volatile oil

• steroidal saponins

• triterpenes

• mucilage

• asparagine

• chlorophyll

• Ca, K+, P, trace minerals, vitamins A and C

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Energetics/ Organoleptics

ENERGETICS: Moist​, astringent, cooling, and sweet

PLANETS:  associated with Saturn and is sacred to Hecate

ELEMENTS: water

MAGICAL PROPERTIES: Comfrey has been used in protective magic for the traveler and to protect against theft

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Contraindictions

• Comfrey roots, like most perennial roots, does contain poison. In comfrey, this is pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Wild comfrey (officinale) leaves have some of the same poisons. But cultivated comfrey (uplandica) leaves don't contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

• The pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) compounds are believed to cause liver disease if taken over a long period of time. Studies also show that the leaves reliably have fewer PAs than the roots.

• Rats that are unethically fed large amounts of comfrey leaves have been shown to develop liver cancer, the main concern in humans is venoocclusive disease (VOD). This condition happens when the very small (microscopic) veins of the liver are obstructed, preventing normal liver function and causing a backup of blood in the liver, leading to engorgement, portal vein pressure, fluid buildup in the abdomen (ascites), enlarged spleen, and liver scarring (cirrhosis). Symptoms occur very quickly. About one-fourth of the people diagnosed with hepatic VOD die.

• There are documented cases of comfrey being applied to baby girls diapers as a rash ointments, that have then led to the vagina sealing up, demonstrating the powers of Comfrey.

• Don’t mix comfrey with drugs that are hard on the liver. The potential damage of PAs is made worse in the presence of acetaminophen (Tylenol), a drug with an irrefutable reputation for liver damage.

• The American Herbal Products Association has recommended against selling comfrey products for internal use.  The FDA is investigating pyrrolizidine alkaloid levels in domestic comfrey. There are other less controversial herbs that can be used in its place, such as peppermint, balm, and ginger.

• Comfrey must not be used on ANY open wound where even the slightest trace of infection is present. Comfrey assists the skin in healing quickly and will close over an existing infection which could lead to a larger systemic infection

• Do not take comfrey without medical advice if you are using any of the following medications:

  • carbamazepine

  • phenobarbital

  • phenytoin

  • rifabutin

  • rifampin

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History

• Comfrey has been cultivated since about 400 BC as a healing herb. The word comfrey, derived from the Latin word for "grow together", reflects the early uses of this plant. Greeks and Romans used comfrey to stop heavy bleeding, treat bronchial problems, and heal wounds and broken bones.

• Comfrey was once commonly called Knitbone because of its amazing ability to heal broken bones and “knit” them back together again. The botanical name, Symphytum, means “to unite." The Greek term symphyton, (symphytum in Latin), is derived from symphyo translated as “I grow together” and Solidago, derived from solido means “I make firm”, is also a synonym.  The common name Comfrey is derived from the Latin ‘conferva’ which means "to join together".  And the name 'officinale' denotes its use as an official apothecary herb of old.

• The plant was also used as a food during the potato famine in Ireland in the 1840s.

• Because comfrey roots dig so deep in search of nutrients, these nutrients are then stored in their leaves, which lack fiber and break down quickly. Thus, comfrey is an excellent compost plant and can be laid in the beds of other plants to act as a fertilizer.

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How to Grow

Comfrey is an herbaceous perennial. The large, hairy, lance-shaped leaves grow in clusters about 12 inches high. It sends up a central stem, which can reach three feet in height. The bell-shaped flowers appear in clusters on this stem shortly before midsummer. The flowers of wild comfrey vary in color, but are most often yellow. Prickly comfrey may have blue or pink flowers, and Quaker comfrey has purplish flowers. The root is black on the outside, white on the inside and tuberous, shaped like a turnip.

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• Comfrey prefers a cooler climate and is hardy down to -40 degrees

• Flowering stems should be removed in the first year so that the plant’s energy is focused on a sturdy root and leaf system. After that, you can let the plant flower.

• Propagation may be effected either by seed or by division of roots in the autumn: the roots are very brittle, and the least bit of root will start growing afresh. They should be planted about 2 1/2 feet apart each way, and will need no further care except to keep them clear from weeds.

• As a green crop they will yield largely if well-rotted manure be dug between the rows when dressing for winter.

• The more you harvest this plant, the more it will grow. It should be harvested in early May, just before it blooms, for the greatest potency. Collect the leaves as needed and spread out to dry. They break down easily, don’t dry well and are very delicate when dry. So it’s best to use comfrey fresh.

• As an ornamental plant, Comfrey is often introduced into gardens, from which it is very difficult to eradicate it when it has once established itself, a new plant arising from any severed portion of the root.